Member Associations | 30 Jul 2023

OVTCHAROV in Olympiacos and LEBESSON in Panathinaikos

The Greek championship is welcoming two European champions in men's singles for the first time. In the list of the first transfers of the season, announced on, 28/07, by the Greek Table Tennis Federation (E.F.O.E.A.), there are the prominent names of Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Emmanuel LEBESSON.

The German OVTCHAROV is a two-time European men's singles champion, a record holder in Olympic medals with 6, and a titleholder in the World Cup. He has joined the reigning champion, Olympiacos, making him the most significant player to come to the Greek A1 League.

“Beside my German Team TTC Neu Ulm, where we will fight to win the Champions League trophy this year I am excited to join Olympiacos. Many strong players like PITCHFORD, GACINA, PUCAR play or played for this team and I see how the League gets stronger and stronger every year. The manager Nikos convinced me from the concept of the club and which reminds me of my time in Villete Charleroi. I am excited for this challenge I am confident it will help me on my way of a great preparation to the Paris Olympics“ said OVTCHAROV.

Season 2022/23 was a fantastic season for the table tennis department of Olympiacos, since the players won the Europe Trophy Cup in Piraeus and did the same in Cup and Championships.

“The Team Manager of the club Katerina SPANOU, our Head Coach Giorgos CHRISTOFORAKIS and I are working hard every day under a specific plan, which is to make Olympiacos one of the elite clubs in European table tennis. But nothing would have happened without the unlimited support of our President Michalis KOUNTOURIS. The addition of Dima OVTCHAROV at men's team for the season 2023/24 is part of this plan and we are very happy that he will represent Olympiacos and that we will have such a great athlete and personality in our club. Along with Joao MONTEIRO, Tomislav PUCAR, Antonino AMATO and our Greek players Anastasios RINIOTIS, Giannis SGOUROPOULOS and Giorgos STAMATOUROS we are willing to make the Double Title in Greece for a third consecutive year,” announced Transfers Planning Manager Nikos SIRIGONAKIS.

Olympiacos women's team will be even stronger at the season 2023/24 with the come back of LI Fen and together with Margaryta PESOTSKA, Georgina POTA, Galia DVORAK and Greeks Aliki KIOUFI, Despoina DANDOULA and Maria CHRISTOFORAKI. They will try to make the Double in Greece as well.

“This season I represent team Olympiacos in Greece and Sudtirol in Italy. It will be my third year in Greek championship and second year in Italian. I am very happy to play with the strongest players from Europe and I hope to show my best performance and win the title. Looking forward to participate in Trophy with Olympiacos team and looking forward for our new achievements together,” said PESOTSKA.

The French LEBESSON, who became European men's singles champion in 2016 and won the mixed doubles in 2022, will team up with Panathinaikos, the winner of the Attica Cup. Both, OVTCHAROV and LEBESSON were born in 1988.

The two top clubs and main contenders for titles in the country made the most significant moves from abroad this year as well, while they also renewed their collaborations with other foreign players. Similar reinforcement was sought after by other clubs in the A1 category, and it is noteworthy that 56 transfers of foreign players were approved for the 2023-2024 season.

Apart from OVTCHAROV and LEBESSON the new agreements for A1 teams with foreign players are:

The Swede Victor BRODD, who joined Panathinaikos

The Swede Simon ARVIDSSON and the French Antoine DOYEN, who agreed with AEK

The Spaniard Jesus CANTERO and the Pole Damian VENDROUK, who will compete for OEA Rethymno

The Pole Jan Milosz SAVTSAK for Aris Nikaia

The Hungarian Daniel KOSIBA (who has won two Greek championships with AEK) and the Swede Martin FRIIS for OEA Thessaloniki

The Bulgarian Petio KRASTEV and the Cypriot Christos CHRISTONOV for AS Pera Athens. Seven out of eight top men's teams will have at least one foreign player on their roster.

As for new faces in the A1 women's category, it should be noted that:

Olympiacos welcomes back, after two years, the Swedish LI Fen, former European women's singles champion

Panathinaikos strengthens with the Swedish Matilda HANSSON

AEK acquired the Romanian Alina ZAHARIA and the Bulgarian Kalina CHRISTOVA

AS Pera Athens secured Tatiana VLADIMIROVNA from Portugal, and HAN Thessaloniki signed Tsveltina GEORGIEVA from Bulgaria. By renewing collaborations, only one team, GAO Piraeus, has Greek athletes among its foreign players.